"Political Affairs and Must-See Movies: Highlights of Berlin International Film Festival 2024"
The Berlin Film Festival's international jury press conference was charged with discussions about Germany's far-right, Russia's war in Ukraine, and the conflict in Gaza. The jury members, including Lupita Nyong’o, engaged in testy discussions about their political stances, with Spanish filmmaker Albert Serra facing questions about his supposed admiration for Vladimir Putin. The festival's controversial opening ceremony invitation to the far-right party AfD and criticism over the festival's stance on the conflict in Gaza also sparked debate. The festival opens with the movie Small Things Like These, and the competition includes films starring Rooney Mara, Isabelle Huppert, and Gael Garcia Bernal.